The 2024 Florida high school football playoffs shift to the second round this week with numerous intriguing matchups set to be played across the state. Here are our predictions for what we consider to be Florida’s six biggest games that will take place later this week.
Edgewater vs. Tampa Bay Tech
Not only is this showdown between the Edgewater Eagles and Tampa Bay Tech Titans likely the biggest in Class 6A this week, but it might just be tops in the state between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in Region 2.
Edgewater hosts this game sitting at 10-1 overall on a seven-game winning streak, while the Titans are 8-2 on the same run.
This will be the first meeting between the two since the 2022 Class 3M playoffs, a game that Edgewater won 28-24.
Prediction: Edgewater 27, Tampa Bay Tech 24
St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Blanche Ely
The Region 4 No. 2 seed versus No. 3 seed matchup in Class 5A is one to watch this week, as the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders play host to the Blanche Ely Tigers.
The Raiders come into this game at 8-3 overall, having split their last four games. Blanche Ely is also at 8-3.
These two teams last met a year ago in the Class 3M playoffs, a game St. Thomas Aquinas dominated by a final score of 40-0.
Prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Blanche Ely 17
Clearwater Central Catholic vs. Carrollwood Day
Out of multiple interesting contests in Class 1A this week, arguably none are better than the Region 2 No. 1 seed versus No. 4 seed game between the Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders and Carrollwood Day Patriots.
The Marauders enter this game at 9-2 overall, while the Patriots are at 7-3 and riding a six-game winning streak.
These two teams played a pair of classics a year ago, with Clearwater Central Catholic winning by a final score of 28-27 in the regular season and by 45-41 in the playoffs.
Prediction: Clearwater Central Catholic 30, Carrollwood Day 24
Booker T. Washington (Miami) vs. Cardinal Gibbons
Likely the top matchup in Class 2A takes place in Miami between the No. 1 seeded Booker T. Washington Tornadoes and the No. 4 seeded Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs.
The Tornadoes sit at 8-2 overall and are riding a four-game winning streak, while the Chiefs are 7-4, having won two in a row.
These two teams are not as familiar with each other in recent years as the programs have not met since the 2019 Class 4A playoffs.
Prediction: Booker T. Washington 27, Cardinal Gibbons 17
Palm Beach Central vs. Vero Beach
Arguably the biggest matchup in Class 7A this week comes from the No. 1 versus No. 4 game in Region 3 as the Palm Beach Central Broncos play host to the Vero Beach Indians.
The Broncos, who sit at 10-1 on the year, are currently riding a nine-game winning streak, while the Indians are 7-3, having won seven straight.
The Broncos and Indians last met during the 2021 Class 8A playoffs, a game Palm Beach Central won 28-21.
Prediction: Palm Beach Central 24, Vero Beach 20
Union County vs. Pahokee
We conclude our 2024 Florida high school football predictions for Round 2 of the playoffs with the Rural classification, where the No. 3 seed versus No. 6 seed matchup has the Union County Fightin’ Tigers hosting the Pahokee Blue Devils.
Union County comes into this contest sitting at 9-1 overall, while Pahokee is 7-3.
The two teams have not played in recent years, making this an even more intriguing game.
